Chapter 9
Obito slowly pushed his eyelids open as sleep slipped away. His eyes stung and watered as the light hit him, but he forced his retinas to adjust.
The white hospital ceiling greeted him and for a moment he stared at the smooth surface with tired eyes. Obito could hear the cheerful chirruping of birds from outside and the soft, warm sheets caressed him. Inwardly, Obito grinned. He had passed the second exam. He, Uchiha Obito, the academy dropout had passed the second exam on his first attempt.
"So you're finally awake," a voice drawled from near the window.
Instantly, Obito was awake. Tilting his head to the right he saw Kakashi sitting on the windowsill, with the window wide open as the curtains billowed in the breeze.
"Can't you sit on a chair like a normal person?" Obito grumbled, as he struggled to sit up. The wound in his side panged, but the pain had dulled into a reassuring ache.
Kakashi ignored Obito's comment and told him, "You've been asleep for about a day. Sensei's already started training Rin."
"What?" Obito said and he threw back the covers. "I have to start training!"
Someone had already dressed him in clean clothes so Obito hobbled out of bed and pulled on his jacket. He picked up his forehead protector from the bedside table and hurriedly tied it, then realised something was missing. His goggles. Obito gazed around the room and began to search through the bedside table drawers.
"Looking for your goggles?" Kakashi said lazily. "The nurses threw them out while they were dressing your wound."
Obito's shoulders sagged. He'd been intending to get them repaired or keep the goggles as a memento for passing the second exam. Now they were gone and Obito was without his trademark.
"Seeing as you're up, we might as get some lunch," Kakashi offered and he jumped out of the window leaving Obito open mouthed.
Despite the fact that Team 7 had often eaten lunch together after training, it had always been either Minato or Rin to suggest it. Obito rarely bothered and Kakashi sometimes would make an excuse and leave.
Unsure what to make of Kakashi's offer, Obito clambered onto the windowsill and leapt after his teammate.
"Sensei," Rin said, as she and Minato stood in the third training grounds. "Do you think Obito and Aoba will be ok?"
"Of course they will," Minato assured her, as he rummaged around in one of his flak jacket pockets. "When Obito recovers he'll start training with Kakashi. Aoba's eyes will take a couple of more days to heal but his teammates have already assured me that they'll help him with training."
Rin nodded, relieved. Finally Minato pulled out a small piece of paper with a grin. "Now you already know how to dissipate illusions," Minato said. "Which is good but if Kurenai's technique uses a higher amount of chakra than you have then you're in trouble. Worse case scenario is that you'll be stuck in an illusion battle, so that's one thing you want to avoid."
Rin bit her lip. After Minato had told her the Yuhi clan were illusion specialists she knew she was in trouble. Kurenai would most likely be able to see through her illusion techniques, which was one of Rin's main offensive moves.
"Now what's an illusion user's weakness?" Minato asked her.
"Close combat," Rin answered as she remembered her academy lessons. "Most illusion users rely on ambush. Engaging them in close combat gives little room for them to prepare a good illusion."
"Exactly," Minato smiled. He handed the piece of paper. "Which is why we're going to find out what your elemental chakra nature is. With a sufficient number of attacks Kurenai won't have a chance to use her illusions. Usually it takes months to master an element, but with your chakra control and lots of hard work I'm sure you'll have one reliable attack to hide up your sleeve. Now, just channel your chakra into the paper."
Feeling slightly apprehensive, Rin held the piece of paper and concentrated. Within moments the paper sagged with moisture.
"Water affinity," Minato said, looking interested. "That's good because that's my second affinity now we just-" He stopped in mid sentence and an all too familiar look crossed his face. Minato's eyes glazed over and he stared off into space.
"Um Sensei?" Rin sighed. Minato-sensei was always prone to spacing out and falling into daydreams. Unfortunately Obito wasn't there to yell and snap him back into reality.
"Water affinity… Excellent chakra control…" Minato muttered, with a slow smile.
"Sensei?" Rin repeated, now slightly worried.
Minato's eyes suddenly focused. "Be here tomorrow at nine," he grinned. "In the meantime I want you to do lots of physical exercise to build up your stamina. So try running the perimeter of Konoha." Then he body flickered away, leaving Rin speechless.
Team 9 sat on a bench outside a small restaurant sipping tea as their sensei, Umino Fune, began to wander off on one of his tangents about his son.
"See how big Iruka is now?" He smiled, whipping out a photograph from his flak jacket. "Almost six years old now. How time flies." Fune's eyes misted over as he shoves the photograph in his students' faces.
Kurenai smiled but Asuma inwardly groaned. It had been only last week since they saw little Iruka.
"Sensei," he said, trying not to roll his eyes.
"And he'll be starting academy soon too," Fune continued, as he waved the photo in front of Kurenai's face. "I'm going to teach him how to throw shruiken to give him a head start. I hope he makes he lots of friends, you know how dreadful academy can be especially these days and-"
"Sensei!" Asuma said, snatching the photo from his doting instructor.
Fune chuckled and scratched his head. "Sorry Asuma," he said sheepishly. Asuma handed the photo back and Fune carefully slipped it back into his pocket.
"Now," Fune said his face becoming serious. "Congratulations on passing the second exam. I'll admit I was apprehensive about nominating you to enter the exams initially but now, you've proved me wrong."
Asuma grinned. He hadn't cared about the dangers surrounding the exams. All he wanted was for people to recognise him not as the Hokage's son but as Sarutobi Asuma.
"Now Ebisu is still in hospital," Fune continued. "But first I want to talk about your opponents."
Asuma's face twisted into a grimace. That night in the Forest of Death had been one of the scariest in his life. The Kusa team had ambushed them and before Team 9 could escape Ryuu, the boy wearing the hat, attacked Ebisu with his technique. Asuma shuddered at the memory. They had been lucky to escape with just those injuries.
"Now you've already face the Kusa team," Fune said. "So Asuma you'll have some idea how the Kusa girl's movements work. Remember when it comes to nature elements Kusa nins usually have either earth or water chakra. Wind nature is rare so she probably won't expect it."
Asuma nodded. Focusing his wind chakra was hard work but he was desperate to make his father proud.
"Now Rin is a bit of an enigma," Fune admitted to Kurenai. "Minato's been extremely secretive about his team, but then he's always been shy so he rarely is in the jonin lounge. We already know that she has some knowledge of medical techniques. That takes up a lot of precise chakra control so she'll most likely be an illusion type ninja. You'll have the advantage, Kurenai."
Kurenai nodded but she looked slightly uncomfortable. Asuma understood why. They owed Team 7 one for helping them out.
"But Minato's always been one for surprising people," Fune said and he scratched his goatee thoughtfully. "Rin will most likely have something up her sleeve, so you should be working on a new technique."
"My father is back from a mission so he's offered to train me," Kurenai said.
Fune nodded approvingly, "We'll train together to strengthen your taijutsu as well."
Asuma drained his cup of tea and his eyes wandered over to the path of people strolled by. He watched as children chattered excitedly to their parents and for a brief moment he wondered what it would be like to have a father who wasn't the Hokage.
Then two people caught his eye. Obito and Kakashi. The memory of Obito giving his scroll away flashed in Asuma's mind.
"Be right back," Asuma said to Fune and Kurenai. He left the bench and ran over to them.
"How do you eat so fast?" Asuma heard Obito say to Kakashi as he approached.
"By chewing," Kakashi told his teammate dryly.
"Obito?" Asuma said awkwardly. The two stopped talking and looked at him.
Asuma fidgeted on the spot uncomfortably. The memories of teasing Obito back in academy were all too fresh in his mind. Sure it had been Genma who had led Obito's victimisation. But Asuma had been one of the people who had snickered each time Obito failed to answer a simple question correctly. He had called Obito a crybaby with the others and had laughed when Genma 'accidentally' tripped Obito up on numerous occasions.
Sickened by his past actions, Asuma had vowed to make amends. "Your opponent, the boy from Kusa, Ryuu," Asuma said to his shoes, as he attempted to avoid Obito and Kakashi's stares.
"What about him?" Obito asked, scowling a little.
Asuma could feel Kakashi's gaze boring into him. He glanced at the White Fang's son, not wanting to be intimidated by those cold eyes. Kakashi had always been a strange person to Asuma. His almost freakish talent attracted envy and stares among the other ninja. In a way, Asuma could relate to Kakashi. They shared the same pains of living up to their fathers' legends. Though, Kakashi was a lot closer to it than he was.
"He's dangerous," Asuma said to Obito. "Really dangerous. It was his attack that hit Ebisu… But I think he was only playing with us."
Asuma suppressed a shudder then he remembered something. "He's left handed," he added keenly.
Kakashi continued to remain silent as Obito processed this information. Finally he asked Asuma, "Why are you telling me this? We're competing against each other after all."
Asuma grinned, "I owe you one. Anyway it's like you said. We're all ninjas from Konoha, we all possess the Will of Fire!"
Obito's eyes widened but his face suddenly split into a grin. "Thanks, Asuma!" He said.
Satisfied, Asuma gave them a wave and ran back to join Kurenai and Fune. He slipped back onto the bench. Fune glanced over curiously at Obito and Kakashi who had resumed their journey.
"What was that about?" He asked.
Asuma glanced at Kurenai who gave him an understanding smile. "It's nothing sensei," Asuma grinned. "Just making friends."
Kushina was always used to people staring at her hair. Back in academy her fellow students had laughed at the unusual colour and even now Kushina found it hard to look at tomatoes in the same way. She had hated the hideous crimson colour. It'd reminded of everything that she'd wished to forget. It'd been a flare to her fellow students that she was an outsider, a foreigner. The long tangled tresses were flags of her lost clan that was scattered around the globe, just a mere memory of Whirlpool that was swallowed by the ocean.
No wonder she had taken a rusty kunai to her hair after her first day of academy. But just to spite her, it grew back fast and thick. No matter how many times Kushina had hacked at it, it always seeped out from her scalp like weeds from the ground. In the end Kushina had given up. Like the Kyubi's chakra, she let it shroud her in anger and isolation.
Of course, irony was a strange thing. Puberty struck Kushina late and when it hit, it really hit her hard. The childhood roundness melted away and her body transformed into a willowy figure. Suddenly Kushina was an exotic beauty. Men gaped at her in the street and women sighed in envy.
It was funny but only one person had ever complimented her hair. But then… Minato wasn't exactly what you'd call normal. He always had a strange obsession with her hair that almost bordered on a fetish, much to Kushina honour and amusement.
Right now however, Kushina was not happy with her hair.
"It's so long," She moaned, as she sat in Mikoto's sitting room.
Mikoto was sitting next to her on the sofa, mending one of Obito's shirts.
On the floor Itachi gurgled as he happily played with a soft toy Kushina had bought for him. The toy was a painfully bright orange cat, with a bright red bow tied around its neck and a rather forlorn expression upon it's face. As soon as Mikoto saw it she'd burst out laughing. Admittedly the main deciding factor to buying the toy was because Kushina took a strange sadistic pleasure in seeing Fugaku scowl. Then again, Itachi absolutely loved his gift. When Fugaku attempted to part him from his new toy, Itachi had burst into tears.
"And look," Kushina said as she held up her hair for Mikoto to see. "Split ends."
Mikoto sighed and said, "Why don't you get it cut then? It's almost to your waist."
The thought about having her hair completely shorn off had occurred to Kushina. It was annoying having it so long. It was a chore to dry, brush and condition. Not to mention the state it was in after she returned from a mission. But…
"I noticed your beautiful hair right away."
Kushina blushed. Maybe she would just have it trimmed. She heard Mikoto giggle and she sent a scowl at her friend.
Kushina knelt down next to Itachi and picked up the cat. Grinning, she made the cat pounce and prowl around Itachi.
"Have you given him a name yet, Itachi?" She said as he laughed. "What's his name?"
"Shissy," Itachi said, pointing at the cat.
"Shissy," Kushina said, nodding. "I see… A wise choice, Itachi, a wise choice."
"He named it after Shisui," Mikoto laughed as Kushina handed Shissy back to Itachi, who promptly began to chew on the poor cat's tail.
"Shisui?" Kushina asked. "The boy who lives with Kakashi's teammate?"
Mikoto nodded, "He's a very lively boy, a lot like Obito actually. The two could easily be mistaken for brothers. The clan has high hopes for Shisui. We're hoping that he'll graduate by the time he's six."
Kushina grunted. She had never particularly agreed with Mikoto marrying Fugaku at such a young age. Marrying into the Uchiha clan was an honour, especially with the danger that their children might not have the sharingan. Not to mention that Mikoto had given up her career as a ninja just to raise Itachi.
"Obito's very happy about making the final round," Mikoto changed the subject. Kushina's face melted into a smile as she saw pride on her friend's face.
"Kakashi's pleased for Obito and Rin," Kushina told her. "Well… When I asked he shrugged and said 'alright' which is extremely enthusiastic in Kakashi language."
Mikoto laughed and said, "I'm glad to hear that he's opening up more now."
Kushina grinned as she thought of Kakashi.
Suddenly a loud rapping echoed through the house. "Mikoto!" A man's voice called. "Mikoto!"
"Fugaku's colleagues," Mikoto mouthed at Kushina who rolled her eyes. She stood and called, "Coming!"
Kushina continued to sit on the floor with Itachi as she danced Shissy up and down, while listening to what was going on at the front door.
"We found him lurking at the entrance," a gruff voice said and Kushina raised an eyebrow. Shissy performed a pirouette, causing Itachi to giggle.
"Oh he's a friend," she heard Mikoto laugh. "It's fine, honestly. He's also an acquaintance of Fugaku's. Please come in. Would you like some tea?"
"No thank you," Kushina heard the Uchiha member snort.
There're more mutterings and the front door slid shut. Mikoto continued to apologise to the person.
"It's fine, honestly," the unexpected visitor assured her. "It's my fault for turning up uninvited."
Kushina dropped Shissy. She recognised that voice. Her cheeks heated up and her eyes widened. Mentally, she slapped herself for acting like a love struck teenager.
"Kushina! We have a visitor!" Mikoto announced as they stepped into the room.
"Hey Kushina," Minato said.
"Hi Minato," Kushina said, picking up the garish cat and handing him back to Itachi. She stood to face him.
"I'll just make some tea," Mikoto said all too innocently, as she walked over and scooped Itachi and Shissy up. Hastily, she backed out of the room leaving Kushina and Minato alone.
"So what brings you to the Uchiha compound?" Kushina asked Minato casually.
"Oh, you know… I just fancied a stroll," Minato grinned. The grin infected Kushina and she found herself smiling.
"Really?" She said, raising an eyebrow. "I see… Slacking off then? I expected you to be a better sensei."
"I'm not slacking off!" Minato said quickly. "You see I was thinking…"
"Ah," Kushina nodded. She knew that when Minato started 'thinking' he tended to wander off in a daze.
Minato rumpled his hair sheepishly, "No what I mean is, Rin discovered her primary elemental affinity today. It's water."
Not really knowing what Minato was getting at, Kushina nodded, she was all too used to Minato brilliant but strange ideas.
"So," Minato continued. "I remembered that your primary affinity is water too! Seeing as you're from Whirlpool and I recalled that the water techniques you use are Whirlpool's specialities… So…"
"So you want me to train Rin," Kushina finished. "Minato, you know my speciality is sealing not water techniques. Anyway… Some of those water techniques require a lot of chakra and they're unique to Whirlpool."
"Exactly!" Minato grinned. "Think about it Kushina. By teaching Rin those techniques you're keeping them alive. Rin has amazing chakra control and intelligence so she'll be able to pick up the techniques. Not to mention that thanks to the team gelling well together it's given her confidence as well as good training in the basics. It just has to be one simple technique, nothing A-rank standard."
Having someone learn Whirlpool techniques was certainly very appealing to Kushina, since it had always been a fear to her that her village would be forgotten. Not to mention, if Rin developed well enough Kushina may be able to teach her some sealing techniques when she's older… The idea of having an apprentice to pass down that knowledge made Kushina's heart leap.
Rin was a sweet girl. Kushina had met her in passing a couple of times. She was clearly besotted with Kakashi though she didn't let her infatuation affect her actions. Rin was always fair to both Obito and Kakashi, something that Kushina admired. She hated people who played favourites.
"Fine," Kushina huffed, pretending to be annoyed. "I'll do it but you owe me one, ok?"
Minato beamed at her and answered, "I knew you would, thank you, Kushina."
Kushina shrugged and pushed her hair out of her eyes. "Make sure you come and check on her," she said to him. "I don't want you paying attention just to Obito."
"I will," Minato assured her. "Kakashi's offered to help with their taijutsu and weaponry skills too."
Kushina nodded. The chunin exams were such a chore, but then they were a replacement of war. Dark thoughts crept into Kushina's head. The stalemate between Suna and Iwa wouldn't last forever.
But Minato's voice broke Kushina's brooding. "This evening, do you want to get something to eat?" He asked.
Kushina rolled her eyes, "Idiot. You know you can just come round for dinner, Kakashi won't mind."
Again Minato thanked her. It was a rather annoying habit of his, to profusely thank or apologise to people. No wonder people used to underestimate him, back in academy.
"Rin will be in the third training grounds at nine tomorrow," Minato told her.
Kushina gave him a rather evil grin and said, "I'll look forward to it."
"Can you juggle?" As soon as Obito heard that question, he rubbed his eyes furiously.
"Can you juggle, loser?" Kakashi repeated, adding on an insult for good measure.
Obito scowled, "What has that got to do with anything?"
The two of them stood in a small forest clearing near the Uchiha compound, one of Obito favourite spots to train. After that weird conversation with Asuma they had headed there.
"So you can't," Kakashi said. "Figures."
Obito bristled at Kakashi's annoying, all knowing attitude. "What's that supposed to mean?" He retorted.
Kakashi drew four kunai and one after the other he flung them into the air. Mesmerised Obito stared, open mouthed, as Kakashi began to juggle with the deadly blades. They soared in a flashing cycle, higher and higher as Kakashi snatched the kunai and flung them once more into the air.
"Juggling improves dexterity and co-ordination," Kakashi said casually. His eyes flicked from the blades to glance at Obito. "Think about it. If you can do this without even thinking, think about how much you'll improve in battle."
Reluctantly Obito thought about it and it actually made a lot of sense. It also partly explained Kakashi's skill. Kakashi then shifted his stance slightly, and one by one he caught and threw the kunai into a nearby tree.
Obito glanced at the kunai that were neatly embedded in a row. Immediately he wanted to try juggling.
"You can try that in your spare time," Kakashi told him as he went to retrieve the kunai. "Just try with two balls, not blades. Stay focused and you'll eventually find a rhythm."
Obito nodded as Kakashi replaced the kunai back into his weapons pouch. "Let's train!" He grinned.
Without warning, Kakashi suddenly launched himself at Obito, the White Fang flashing in his hand. If Obito hadn't jumped back Kakashi would have beheaded him with one swift strike.
"Ah watch it!" Obito cried.
"You think Ryuu will just sit around for you to prepare yourself?" Kakashi snorted as he leapt at Obito.
Cursing, Obito bunched his muscles and jumped high into a tree. He knew it would be stupid to engage Kakashi in weaponry combat. When it came to speed and agility, Kakashi was already nearing jonin level. His teammate also was far superior in ninja techniques and probably had an illusion technique up his sleeve too.
Think! He thought furiously to himself as he rubbed his eyes. Damn it… I wish I had my goggles…
He slapped his cheeks in the effort to concentrate. That was it! All Obito had to do was somehow disarm Kakashi and catch him in a taijutsu battle. The prodigy was smaller than him, so Obito had a height and weight advantage.
Grinning, Obito saw a bush rustle below. Forming seals with ease he yelled, "Fire style: Great fireball technique!"
The flames roared and incinerated the foliage below. A white streak flew out and a shower of shruikens sailed towards Obito. Leaping out of the tree, Obito threw down a smoke bomb and retreated into the undergrowth.
Not wasting a moment he threw in an explosive tag for a good measure. The small blast shook the clearing and as the smoke began to clear he could make out a silhouette still standing. With a cry, Obito burst out from the bush and charged at Kakashi. He was taken by surprise as Obito landed a blow to Kakashi face but his teammate disappeared with a puff of smoke.
"Huh?" Obito said stupidly. "A shadow clone?"
Instinct made him whirl round, just in time as Kakashi appeared. For a moment Obito eyed the chakra sabre then he suddenly grinned and dived to the side. He leapt, aiming a powerful roundhouse kick at Kakashi's side.
Kakashi ducked to avoid the blow but Obito did something totally unexpected. He leap-frogged over Kakashi, whirled around and delivered a blow to his arm causing his teammate to drop the White Fang.
For a split second Kakashi's eyes widened as he realised Obito's intentions. He spun to avoid Obito's punch.
Most ninjas used the academy taijutsu as a foundation so Kakashi usually found their movements predictable. Obito however used the Uchiha style, which was a strong, fluid combination that used a series of powerful kicks. Though there was an added 'Obito flare' to the style, as the attacks seemed to be mostly improvised and at random. Kakashi, though, had trained with Kushina enough times to be used to unpredictable attacks.
Kakashi feinted to the right but Obito jumped and sent a kick in response. Inside Obito was grinning. He was actually matching Kakashi!
But Obito's glee soon evaporated as Kakashi suddenly dropped to aim a low blow to his gut. Obito dived back in the effort to avoid the attack but it was too late.
In those precious few moments Kakashi had scooped the White Fang from the ground and he charged at Obito. Taken by surprise, he attempted to dodge Kakashi's attack but his teammate had the advantage and it was all over.
In a matter of seconds Obito felt the White Fang press gently against his throat.
"Nice try," Kakashi said and though bitterly disappointed Obito was slightly pleased that his teammate was out of breath. "Taijutsu is my weakness but you got too complacent." He sheathed the chakra sabre and added, "If you're complacent you're not going to survive in the arena."
Obito scowled, he knew Kakashi had a point but still… Kakashi, Rin, Minato-sensei and the entire Uchiha clan… For most of his young life he had strived for people to recognise him for whom he was. Not Obito, the failure, the black sheep of the Uchiha clan. Though things had been improving since he had joined Team 7, it still wasn't enough.
"Damn it," he growled and he jabbed a finger at Kakashi. "I don't care that you're supposed to be some once in a generation genius or that you're a chunin. Hey, I don't care anymore that you're the White Fang's son."
Kakashi's eyes widened at Obito's statement but he kept going. The feeling rising up in Obito's chest was ready burst. "But once I get my sharingan I will surpass you," Obito said as he glared at him. "People will be forced to recognise me for who I am, even you Kakashi."
A breeze swept past them as Kakashi stared at him in silence. He didn't laugh or roll his eyes or walk away like Obito had expected. Instead he said something completely unexpected, "Do any of the Sannin have bloodline limits?"
Obito blinked. Hard. "What?" He spluttered. Kakashi was as weird as Minato-sensei sometimes.
"Does Jiraiya have a bloodline limit?" Kakashi persisted.
"No…" Obito replied slowly, as he thought about it.
"Tsunade?"
"No."
"Orochimaru?"
"Don't think so," Obito replied, wondering what Kakashi was implying.
Kakashi looked at him with an unfathomable expression. "You know," he said softly. "Minato-sensei doesn't have a bloodline limit… My Dad… He didn't have one either, so nor do I. Bloodlines limits, sure they're powerful things but users usually rely on them to such an extent it opens up weaknesses. A true ninja doesn't rely on one skill or technique… So stop using your lack of sharingan as an excuse."
The last part stung but Obito gaped at him as the realisation hit home. Kakashi turned and began to walk away from the clearing when, he suddenly stopped.
"Stop chasing a legend, Obito," Kakashi called over his shoulder, with an odd look in his eyes. "Become one."
Suddenly a whole new wave of possibilities washed over him. The weight he had been carrying with him for his entire life suddenly lessened. Obito's brain struggled to comprehend to magnitude of what's been pointed out to him. The sharingan... Was it really not that important? The thought was totally alien to Obito yet... It made sense.
He stared as Kakashi faded into the trees. Those seven words Kakashi had just uttered… They would stay with Obito for the rest of his life.
A/N: The last part was probably ridiculously cheesy but oh well... I hope you liked the chapter anyway!